Spring Grove City Council met Tuesday, August 20 at 168 West Main Street in room #100. Mayor Saundra Solum called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., then led with the Pledge of Allegiance. All council members were present in addition to City Clerk/Administrator Jana Elton.
The council unanimously approved both the Agenda and Consent Agenda.
No participants spoke during Open Forum. Mayor Solum thanked those who ran for office and those who attended the meeting that evening.
The council listened to a recording of Spring Grove’s 2023 final audit presented by Lane Kockelman, CPA senior audit manager from Abdo.
Tim Hruska of WHKS addressed the council with a facilities plan. WHKS serves communities throughout the upper Midwest providing land surverying, engineering, and planning to clients. Hruska stated the first step is to conduct a facility plan. He wants to put together a funding application which would be due in March 2025. Councilor Trent Turner moved, seconded by Mike Hagen, to approve the facility plan. Motion carried.
Christian Myrah and Eric Bunge addressed the council about the possibility of relocating RockFilter Distillery from its current location at 113 Maple Drive in Spring Grove to the Spring Grove Fest Building located at 110 North Division Avenue. Myrah stated he is looking at options for growth. He wants what is best for RockFilter all while remaining in Spring Grove. The current Fest Building was acknowledged as the perfect size to house production and a cocktail room. If RockFilter Distillery were to move to the Fest Building, Myrah would certainly welcome events to be held there as such had been done at the Fest Building location in the past. Currently the Fest Building is being underutilized. Mayor Solum agreed that the building is underutilized and that it is not rented out often. City Clerk/Administrator Elton chimed in stating that the building is not a money maker as it costs the city money to have the building cleaned and to be heated.
Councilor Hagen questioned Myrah on if he intends to purchase the building or lease it. Myrah responded that he just wants to know if such is even an option first. “This is just starting the conversation,” stated Solum. Hagen said he felt this is something to look into, to which Councilor Turner agreed. Councilor Heather Edgington also agreed and added that there are other places in Spring Grove that could host events if needed.
Bunge mentioned that time is an issue here with RockFilter’s current lease ending April 2025. Bunge and Myrah have looked into moving RockFilter Distillery out of town, out of state, and keeping the business in Spring Grove. Bunge owns a building to store barrels. He added the importance for the council to consider the Fest Building, as the building is currently underutilized.
Councilor Edgington questioned Myrah about a timeline. Myrah responded that he wants to work on a transition plan. Any plans going forward would be dependent on the decision whether or not RockFilter could potentially relocate to the Fest Building. Councilor Karen Folstad stated, “Yeah! I think we should look into it.” Mayor Solum informed that Elton can speak with the city attorney for further information and that RockFilter will be kept in the loop. Solum ended with, “We’re so glad you want to stay here!”
City Clerk/Administrator Elton informed, “Long story short, we still have a problem with cats.” Isaak Solum, who takes care of animal control for Spring Grove, has been receiving a lot of calls. Solum approached the council, and the council and he discussed trapping. Elton shared that the city has rehomed many feral cats. Mayor Solum questioned whether or not there are enough farms to take these cats in. Councilor Edgington acknowledged that rehoming cats to farms is not a permanent solution in that the cats keep reproducing. Elton informed that Spring Grove residents are still feeding feral cats.
The council discussed enforcing the ordiance more in regards to residents feeding feral cats. “Has anyone gotten a ticket?” Councilor Hagen asked. Elton responded yes, however, the food bowls for these cats are hidden but cats still remain present. “I think we need to move forward with a plan,” stated Edgington.
After further discussion on the cat issue, the council agreed to have Solum trap three cats per property for free, any additional cats trapped on that property the city will be billed $10 per extra cat. Residents can then share what happens after these cats are trapped and removed off their property.
After an evening of listening to a number of speakers, the council meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
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